“It turned out to be the year of almosts,” said California head coach Lindsay Gottlieb.

Picked to win or finish 2nd in the Pac-12 conference, the California Golden Bears finished tied for third. They had the Pac-12 Tournament title within their grasp, but fell by one point. And tonight, on their home floor, with the chance to return to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, fourth-seeded Cal (lost to fifth-seeded Texas 73-70.